With the tough times facing many of the people in our nation, it’s interesting to note the resolutions people make each New Year. People have shown that they’re more focused on the real things of life. Family and relationships seem to always be near the top of resolutions, but this year it’s especially high on the priority list. There’s an indication that many people are becoming less materialistic than before.  And why not?! In the last two years our country has taken on more debt for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren than the first two hundred years of our nation’s history combined!!

            But, it’s interesting to see what people are doing for themselves personally. You can go to a website called HiAspire.com and see what people are “resolving” to do this year. Of course, lose weight and exercise are still near the top, but many of the entries suggest, “...being a better person, being a better spouse, spending time with the kids, stay married (?), and my favorite, “I resolve to not make any resolutions because nobody is perfect.  I’m a nobody, therefore I’m perfect.”

            Can we ever move beyond shallow resolutions and begin making solutions for our lives? We have to start by working on the core values of our life, instead of platitudes and cosmetics. In some cases, losing weight may only be a symptom of something else deep inside - like self-control or something more biological. Controlling one’s drinking may only be a symptom of someone trying to deaden their pain, instead of finding our strength in God’s will and purpose. Controlling anger may be a need of unresolved conflict not even related to those who feel our wrath.

            We focus on personal development - not a new abdominal exerciser, but what it means to be a human being in relationship with the other 3+ billion people on the earth.  We could purchase every book at Barnes and Noble on self-help and still be angry. We could be the most educated person on the face of the earth and never have a clue about the basics of life.  We may have all the right investments in our portfolio but still be spiritually bankrupt. Personal development for the Christian will focus on successfully going through this life on toward life eternal.

            If we want to achieve the most in this life, and yet hold back from a relationship with God, there’ll be no real growth in a personal life. If we demand our relationship with God to be on our time and on our terms, we make Him to be a pretty wimpy God. St Paul said, “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law. But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner to the law of sin at working within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

            But, what if we’ve failed every time we’ve tried “turning it all over to God”? St Paul encourages us to press on and forget the failures. Every day is a new opportunity. Part of it, of course is avoiding the junk that has helped cause and solidify the failures we’ve experienced. Watch only wholesome TV.  Read good books and trash the secularized magazines that deify Hollywood and its lifestyle. Build a purpose in your life - regardless of how young or old you may be - a purpose focused on Christ and what it is He’s done for you in this life and life everlasting. Our life isn’t an accident. God gave it purpose. The only formula for success that seems to stand the test of time is God’s divine plan.  It’s worked perfectly for over 6000 years and doesn’t show any signs of failing.

            Secondly, focus on relationships that are healthy, pure and wholesome. We’re created for relationship, not isolation. It’s a destructive illusion to think we can be totally independent or emotionally separated from our friends and family (including the extended family). The church and the family - fathers, mothers, and children are the building blocks of every healthy social organization.”Where there are two or more gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them,” said our Savior, Jesus Christ.

            Thirdly, focusing on service is a life-growing exercise. One of the greatest tragedies is watching people who live for themselves alone. Everything is done on how it affects them. The only effort they expend is for themselves - always getting instead of giving. That kind of personal goal is the antithesis of Christ Jesus. “I came not to be served, but to serve and be a Servant to all,” Jesus said. When we allow God to build our personal lives, the whole body of Christ will be built stronger... Christian benefit and are blessed by being a benefit and a blessing.

            There’s a place for all of us in God’s family. If at least a portion of our life isn’t dedicated to serving God and others, what IS the purpose?  We each have a mission.  We each have a purpose. We are a link in the chain.  We may be the only person who will ever have the opportunity to share the love of God in Christ Jesus with another person who doesn’t know God’s grace and forgiveness. Can we risk not shouldering some of the mission and ministry of the Church to bring that person from the path that leads to eternal destruction and torment?

            Think of what it is God gave you when He called you by the Gospel and gave you the gifts of His Holy Spirit. Is that not just too precious for us to let it evaporate into insignificance compared to all the other pleasures of this life? In a few weeks, the frantic pace of Christmas will be long behind us.  The Church will be in the middle of the Festival Seasons.  Advent is gone.  Christmas is over, we’re in Epiphany, and then, all of a sudden it’s Ash Wednesday and the Festival of Lent that carries us to Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the glorious Easter Season.

            What does all that mean? It means the tiny infant, Jesus, was sent from God for you.  It means He came to take away the indelible stain of sin and the consequences of the ravages sin has wracked on our lives.  He came to bring us His righteousness before God and exchange it for our wretchedness.  He came to bring us the guarantee of life everlasting in the glorious, eternal kingdom of God. Let that be the focus of our New Year. Because, that will be STARTING THE NEW YEAR RIGHT.

                                                         A blessed and joyous New Year to you and your entire family.

                                                            Your servant in Christ +

                                                                 Rev Dr Roger Paavola